Call of Duty 4 beta details

Everything you needed to know - except a launch date...

Activision and developer Infinity Ward have released enough information on the Call of Duty 4 multiplayer beta to fill a six-page magazine preview (lookout for them in a month's time).

Straight to the chase... (note: all of the followingquotes come fromthis website)

Experience points: "In game you are going to see pretty yellow numbers pop up when you complete objectives, get kills, etc. These are your Experience Points. Experience Points add to your overall ranking during the match. Depending on the matchtype, you will get a different number of points for different actions. And no, you will not be able to carry your rank over into the final game."

Does it have a party system?

Yes. "Select 'Xbox Live' from the main menu and then choose 'Find Game'. If you want to party up with your friends, select 'Party Invite' from the same menu. You can also jump into matches your friends are playing by selecting their gamertag through the Xbox 360 dashboard, Friend's List and the option 'Join Session in Progress."

Create-a-Class: "Reach the rank of Private (rank 4) and you will unlock Create a Class. Here you can customize a class lead-out that fits your specific play-style. Create a Class is all about options - pick your primary weapons, side arms, grenades, attachments, weapon camouflages, and, maybe most importantly, Perks."